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Golden Boy

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Overview

“Harrowing but ultimately redemptive…the murder of Tanzania’s albinos is a real and horrific phenomenon of the past 15 years, a cold fact that makes the fictional events in ‘Golden Boy’ more moving and consequential than those in any dystopian young-adult chase-drama.”—The Wall Street Journal

*“Readers will be haunted by Habo’s voice as he seeks a place of dignity and respect in society. An important and affecting story.”—School Library Journal, starred review

Thirteen-year-old Habo has always been different—light eyes, yellow hair and white skin. Not the good brown skin his family has and not the white skin of tourists. Habo is strange and alone. His father, unable to accept Habo, abandons the family; his mother can scarcely look at him. His brothers are cruel and the other children never invite him to play. Only his sister Asu loves him well. But even Asu can’t take the sting away when the family is forced from their small Tanzanian village, and Habo knows he is to blame.

Seeking refuge in Mwanza, Habo and his family journey across the Serengeti. His aunt is glad to open her home until she sees Habo for the first time, and then she is only afraid. Suddenly, Habo has a new word for himself: Albino. But they hunt Albinos in Mwanza because Albino body parts are thought to bring good luck. And soon Habo is being hunted by a fearsome man with a machete. To survive, Habo must not only run, but find a way to love and accept himself.

Praise

“Readers will be caught by the contemporary story of prejudice, both unspoken and violent, as tension builds to the climax.”–Booklist — Booklist

“A moving novel that explores finding the worth of an individual as they see themselves, not as the world sees them.”–VOYA — VOYA

“Readers will be haunted by Habo’s voice as he seeks a place of dignity and respect in society. An important and affecting story.”—starred School Library Journal — Starred School Library Journal

“Harrowing but ultimately redemptive…the murder of Tanzania’s albinos is a real and horrific phenomenon of the past 15 years, a cold fact that makes the fictional events in ‘Golden Boy’ more moving and consequential than those in any dystopian young-adult chase-drama.” –The Wall Street Journal — The Wall Street Journal

“Golden Boy is an amazing story of prejudice, bravery and acceptance. From the very first page, I was captivated by Habo and his struggle to find his place in the world.”–Kristin Levine, critically acclaimed author of The Lions of Little Rock and The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had — Kristin Levine, critically acclaimed author of The Lions of Little Rock

“A commandingly written debut, Golden Boy is a moving, gorgeous account of what it means to feel profoundly different when the stakes are survival itself.”–Eliot Schrefer, author of National Book Award Finalist Endangered — Eliot Schrefer, author of Natioanl Book Award Finalist Endangered

“Through the course of the story Habo grows from a dependent character to one who is strong enough to defend himself and others against injustice. Well-written and researched…”–LMC — LMC